SCARLETT 4: A Hood Romance Novel

by Tiece

  “Quit playing, Sheila. I’m over Luke.” Scarlett said with a light roll of the eyes as she turned to her computer screen.

  “Well, he just dropped me off in the driveway of my house and I got out of his car. He was a gentleman with a listening ear when I needed one, but he definitely didn’t look at me in that manner. Hell, I didn’t look at him in that manner either. I got my own personal shit going on that’s still got me fucked up. He just happened to show up and I guess in a sense we were both the kind of company that each other needed. Just not in the manner that you may be thinking,” she assured her.

  “Oh, I’m not thinking anything.” Scarlett quickly said, but she was definitely happy to hear Sheila say that there was nothing on both parts. “So, how did he look?” she asked knowing that when she’d last saw him, he was fucked up in his feelings over finding out about her engagement.

  “He was sad. He looked hurt, but he was trying to hold it together.”

  “I bet he was,” Scarlett softly said like she felt bad for him.

  “Don’t worry, he’s a big boy.” Sheila said. “If you don’t take him back then he’s going to have to get over it. He should understand why though. You should never give your woman a chance to see what it’s like to be with someone else. The same thing with Jay,” she added thinking about what she’d done after she returned home from chilling with Nina and Scarlett.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Scarlett pondered as she looked in Sheila’s direction.

  “It means that I had company last night.” She said with a light chuckle.

  “Already Sheila?” she asked. “Damn, what could you be thinking? You’re still hurting over this shit with Jay. Don’t you think you’re moving too fast?”

  “Nope,” Sheila said. “The sooner I can get over Jay, the better.”

  “Are you listening to yourself? You don’t even know if that baby is his, yet.”

  “It’s his,” Sheila said. “I just got that gut feeling that it’s his. I’ve always had that feeling, but after the results said something different then I just ran with it. That doesn’t mean that in the back of my mind that I didn’t think something wasn’t right about it. It’s like I couldn’t fully relax or accept it in my heart. Now I see why.”

  “That woman’s intuition is hell.” Scarlett said with a shake of the head. “Now back to last night. What’d you do or shall I ask who’d you see?”

  “Well, I didn’t do anything, but I did invite Mike over.”

  Scarlett frowned. “Mike?” she questioned, “Like your ex Mike?”

  “Yep, that pea brain ass nigga.” Sheila said with a half of smirk on her face.

  “Why in the hell would you call Mike’s ol’ lame ass to come over?” Scarlett pondered. She hated Mike with a passion.

  “Honestly Scarlett, because I was lonely and I knew that he’d come if I called.”

  “I sure hope like hell that you aren’t traveling back down that unpleasant road again.”

  Sheila stood to her feet just as a customer scrolled in from out the door. She headed up to the front counter, and then looked back at Scarlett. “So what if I was? I know how to handle myself.” She said then looked at the customer as he stepped up to the counter with a smile on her face. “May I help you sir?”

  “Yeah, I’m paying for the Oil change and tune up on the white 2012 Infinity.”

  Sheila looked down at her records. “That’ll be one hundred and twenty dollars.” She said. The man pulled out his check book and proceeded in writing out a check for the services. Once Sheila had gotten the check and put it in cash drawer, Greg entered the office with the keys to the man’s car and handed them to him. They exchanged a few words, and then the man left.

  Greg looked over at Sheila. “Did you check the inventory today?”

  “Scarlett is checking that now.” She said. “And, I’m going to the bathroom. Think I had too many drinks last night,” and with that, she walked off as she headed to the restroom leaving Scarlett and Greg alone.

  Greg walked behind the front desk counter and headed straight over to Scarlett. She was beautiful to him as usual as she sat there pretending to be working. Scarlett glanced up at him with a smile on her face. She liked Greg. He was always the perfect gentleman and would’ve done anything in the world for her. This she knew without a doubt.

  “Well, hey again,” she spoke since she’d already spoken to him earlier that morning when she’d made it to work.

  Greg smiled. “Hey,” he spoke back. “You’re looking good.”

  “Thanks,” she said trying her best to keep her eyes on her computer screen. Greg was one good looking man with a swag that told a bitch straight up that he’d take care of them. A man with swag like that could always break a woman down.

  “I’ve missed you.” He honestly said.

  “Greg,” Scarlett whispered.

  “I know,” Greg cut in. “We can’t go there anymore. Honestly, I’m not trying to. I’m just glad to see that you’ve found your way. You’re looking good, you’re smiling more, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to see in you.”

  “I know,” Scarlett sincerely said. To some people he may have been a bad man for cheating on his wife and she may have been a bad woman for dating a married man, but to her Greg was one of the best things that happened to her. He showed her what it was like to date a man that was in tune with a woman’s needs. He showed her what it was like to feel good about herself, and more importantly he actually cared about her. It wasn’t a front. He really did care and that meant more to her than anything in the world.

  “How have you been?” He asked her.

  She looked up at him. He had the most genuine smile that she’d ever seen and it was so freaking contagious that it always made her smile; even if she didn’t want to. “I’ve been good.” She answered.

  “I see,” he said as his eyes glanced down at the nice rock sitting on her finger.

  “Oh yeah,” she said clearing her throat. “I’m engaged.”

  “I see,” Greg said again. “From the looks of that ring, he must truly love you.”

  Scarlett nodded her head with a smile. “He does,” she responded.

  “I’m happy for you.” Greg said. “I honestly couldn’t be happier for you.”

  “Thanks Greg,” Scarlett said. It made her feel good to know that he approved of her decision and in his own way he was giving her his blessings. “I guess I should also tell you that I’m pregnant.” She added.

  Greg was taken aback as his eyes widened with surprise written all over his face. “Wow,” he said. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Scarlett said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”

  “And you should be,” Greg said. “Give me hug.”

  Scarlett didn’t hesitate. Hugging Greg was always one of the best feelings in the world. She stood to her feet, and immediately Greg wrapped his arms around her. Scarlett hugged him back with her head rested on his chest. It felt good to be in his arms and even though she knew that nothing would ever go on between them again, it still felt good to have the memories that they shared.

  He kissed her in the top of the head. “I’m truly happy for you. You deserve this. Every bit of happiness that comes your way,” he said.

  What they didn’t know as they stood there sweetly embracing each other was that Sheila had just come out of the bathroom and was standing there watching them as the happy tears wailed up in the corner of her eyes. It was nice to hear her dad say such nice things to Scarlett, because in reality she did deserve to be happy. Sheila was aware of the grimy upbringing Scarlett had gone through and she felt partly to blame for not stepping up and being the best friend that Scarlett really needed over the years.

  The minute Scarlett and Greg let each other go, the office doors opened. Mrs. Grand stepped inside of the office with an instant sour look on her face. “Well hey,” she spoke in an unpleasant manner.

  “Hey Mrs. Grand,” Scarlett immediately spoke as she fidge
ted with her fingers.

  “Hey honey,” Greg spoke with an unnerving smile on his face. Scarlett just stood there wanting to sit down, but Mrs. Grand had caught her and Greg in a compromising position.

  “What’s going on here?” Mrs. Grand instantly questioned. “And where is Sheila?”

  “I’m right here, Mama.” Sheila said as she walked up behind Mrs. Grand. “Hey, what are you doing on this side of town?”

  “I was coming to take your father out to brunch.” She said with an unsure smile. “However, it seemed that he and Scarlett were getting pretty cozy with each other. I mean, what’s the occasion?”

  Scarlett nervously stood by, but before she could answer. Sheila stepped in, and then she said, “Scarlett is engaged, Ma. Oh and even better than that, she’s also pregnant. Daddy was just congratulating her. In a sense he is like a father to her since she’s been my best friend since forever, just like she should be like a daughter to you, too.” Sheila said to Scarlett’s surprise. This was definitely not the Sheila that she used to know. Mrs. Grand smiled with the cheesiest smile on earth. She felt somewhat embarrassed at the moment as she looked over at Scarlett. “I’m going to be an Auntie.” Sheila added with a wide, bright smile on her face.

  “Hm, an Auntie.” Mrs. Grand said still trying to comprehend it all. From what she’d heard for a long time was that Scarlett couldn’t have kids. One minute she was this ugly duckling and now she’d become this beautiful dove, it seemed like overnight. And now to hear that she was engaged and pregnant was definitely some unbelievable news to Mrs. Grand. She was passed shocked to say the least as she stood there with a half smile on her face.

  “Well congratulations, Scarlett.” She finally said. “Sheila loses a fiancé and you gain one. Isn’t it funny how life works?” she said, but it could’ve easily been a question.

  “That’s just how things are.” Sheila said.

  Scarlett just smiled while sitting down behind her desk. “Thanks Mrs. Grand. And thank you again, Greg for the kind words.” She threw in so Mrs. Grand could stop being so paranoid all the time.

  Mrs. Grand looked over at her husband. “Greg, are you available for brunch with your beautiful wife?”

  “Yes, I’d love to go on a brunch date with my beautiful wife.” Greg said walking over and kissing Mrs. Grand on the lips. “Let me go wash up right quick.” As Greg headed down the hallway and into the restroom, Mrs. Grand directed her attention over to Sheila.

  “Hey baby,” she spoke giving her a light peck on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good, Ma.” Sheila said lying through her teeth. She was sad, but she didn’t want it to show.

  “Jay is taking the DNA tests today right?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Sheila answered. “It’ll take about a week or two before the results come back.”

  “I see,” Mrs. Grand said. She could see in Sheila’s watery eyes that she’d been crying; something she didn’t like to see. “Well, don’t worry yourself. If it’s meant to be with you and Jay it’ll be.” She said, and then leaned over and kissed Sheila again on the cheek. “You’ll find your happy, baby.”

  Scarlett glanced up from her computer screen. Even though Mrs. Grand was a bitch, she was nice to her daughters. She was actually over protective and loved them dearly; something she always longed for from her own mother. “Well, I think that it’s a good thing that Jay decided to put in his two week notice if that baby is his. Otherwise, it would be hard for y’all to work around each other.”

  Scarlett frowned then quickly looked over at Sheila who seemed quite surprised by the news. “He did what?” Sheila asked with a distasteful expression on her face.

  “He put in his two week notice with your father last night. He didn’t tell you?”

  “Nobody told me anything,” Sheila said feeling bombed out for real now.

  “Well, I think it’s for the best if that baby is his.”

  Sheila headed behind the front counter to sit down at her desk. “Yeah, you’re right.” She softly commented as she sat down and pretended to be working just that fast.

  Moments later, Greg came out of the restroom ready to go. “Hold down the fort, ladies.”

  “We got you. Y’all enjoy your date.” Scarlett said with a smile.

  Mrs. Grand still had that cheesy smile on her face as she looked in Scarlett’s direction. “Thanks and congratulations again.”

  “Thanks,” Scarlett said.

  “Call me later,” Mrs. Grand told Sheila.

  “Yes ma’am,” Sheila said, but not once did she take her watery eyes off of her computer screen. It was taking everything in her not to shed a tear. More and more it seemed that Jay was going to become just a memory in her life and that shit hurt like hell.

  Mrs. Grand and Greg made their exit as Scarlett looked over at Sheila. She could tell that she was wiping her tears even though she was acting like she was just rubbing in her eyes.

  “You okay, Sheila?” Scarlett asked, because she knew that it bothered Sheila to know that Jay would be leaving the shop if the baby was his.

  “Yeah,” she said in between a soft sniff.

  “Well, I’m glad to see your mom in such good spirits.” Scarlett said trying to change the subject.

  “Yeah, she’s been doing extremely well lately.” Sheila told her. It did make her happy to know that her mom was in remission and doing well. Beating cancer was a blessing within itself. With thoughts like that it always put life into perspective for her. “Well bestie, I guess I may as well prepare myself for Jay leaving.”

  “Don’t think like that.” Scarlett said.

  “There is no other way to think. I may as well face it now.” Sheila said. Scarlett didn’t even want to comment. A couple of months prior she would’ve loved to see Sheila in this mood, but now seeing her this down in the dumps wasn’t the least bit funny.

  Chapter 10

  Two weeks had passed quietly on by with hardly any drama or excitement going on. Gwen sat on the back porch of Scarlett’s house chilling while smoking on a Newport. Being sober and clean was actually a great feeling, but she still struggled with going back to her old ways. The wind gently blew in the air as the sun shined brightly from above. Gwen wanted a beer bad as hell as she sat there feeling like today might just be the day that she goes back on her word of staying clean. Two months of being in a sober mind and body was starting to take its toll on her.

  “Shit, shit, shit,” she said with an irritated shake of the head. “Something gotta give.” She scanned her surroundings. No one was outside, but her. It was seven o’clock in the morning so she knew that Anton was still sleeping since he’d just gotten there not long ago. “Damn, Rick should’ve still been alive.” She said just above a whisper. Had Rick been alive, she could’ve easily called him to bring her something to get her by. All she wanted was a quick hit, nothing to major. “Damn.”

  As she sat there trying to figure out a way to get over her addictive itch of snorting a line or two, the clean morning air started to smell like marijuana. Immediately her befuddled eyebrows bunched together with curiosity stirring about. She knew that the smell wasn’t coming from inside the house, because Anton knew better than smoking in the house. Scarlett would kill him; especially with her now being pregnant. She sniffed the air. The smell was that of some really good green, more like that of some serious gas. The smell enticed Gwen as she stood up like a dog sniffing out the scent of its owner. She stepped down off the porch as the smell led her from the back of the house to the side of the house where Scarlett’s bedroom window was at. Instantly, she cursed when she saw who it was.

  “Fuck!” she exclaimed from the shock of seeing Marc sitting on the ground smoking a fat, rolled blunt.

  Marc jumped as he looked up at Gwen. “Shiiit,” he whispered.

  “Shit my ass!” Gwen yelled at him. “What the hell are you doing ‘round here. Nina is gonna choke yo ass if she see you. It’s seven in the morning and you out here smoking w
eed?!” She asked.

  “No ma’am,” Marc said.

  “Quit lyin’,” Gwen quickly said.

  “Well yes ma’am.” He instantly corrected himself after seeing that Gwen meant business.

  “What are you thinking ‘bout, Marc? I can’t believe that you’re out here smoking weed. You’re only how old?” She asked not having a clue how old he actually was as she looked downright confused after asking him that question.

  “I’m almost thirteen,” he nonchalantly responded.

  “Well, almost thirteen year olds shouldn’t be smoking weed; or doing any drugs at that age.” Gwen said.

  “Why not?” he asked looking down at the lit the blunt like he was going to hit it whether she was standing there or not.